Universal holder

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to holders and more particularly to those adapted to be used as card or menu holders. It comprises essentially a stand with a ring affixed thereon, and a swivel clip slidably engaged with said ring and movable universally about said ring for retaining cards, menus and the like in any desired position. This device is an ideal holder for memos and notes.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Venita R. Jensen 9110 Rayford Drive,Los Angeles, Calif. 90045 [21] Appl. No. 796,810 [22] Filed Feb. 5, 1969[45] Patented Feb. 2, 1971 [54] UNIVERSAL HOLDER 6 Claims, 4 DrawingFigs.

[52] U.S.Cl 248/121, 40/1 1; 248/316, 248/452 [51] Int. Cl G091 19/00[50] Field oi'Search 248/469,

451,452,453,459, 316, 316.3, 316.5, 121;40/11,11A,l6.4,16.6;2l1/45,120,124;24/243P,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 363,525 5/1887 Lipp 40/11574550 I/1897 Lodge 24/243 1,178,237 4/1916 Keating 211/45 2,048,5197/1936 Rose 211/124 2,435,174 1/1948 Bell 24/139 2,518,157 8/1950 Malpas248/453 2,596,302 5/1952 Squyres 248/452 3,079,724 3/1963 l-larvel eta1. 248/316 3,343,683 9/1967 Wheeler .1 211/124 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,8059/1897 Great Britain 40/11 288,015 4/1928 Great Britain 40/11 409,8295/1934 Great Britain 248/452 537,563 3/1922 France 24/139 670,778 4/1929France 24/139 Primary Examiner-Marion Parsons, Jr. Attorney-Herzig &Walsh ABSTRACT: This invention relates to holders and more particularlyto those adapted to be used as card or menu holders. It comprisesessentially a stand with a ring affixed thereon, and a swivel clipslidably engaged with said ring and movable universally about said ringfor retaining cards, menus and the like in any desired position. Thisdevice is an ideal holder for memos and notes.

UNIVERSAL HOLDER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is a decorativeholder. and more particularly one having a clip engaged on a ring so asto allow the clip to be universally adjusted to various positions. Theholder comprises essentially a body which may take the form of apedestal with a ring attached to the upper end thereof and a swivel cliphaving an opening through which the ring passes, being rotatable aboutthe part of the ring that passes through the opening, as well asslidable along the ring.

It is an object of this invention to provide a holder having a clip forholding cards and the like. the clip being mounted so that it may beadjusted universally to a variety of positions.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway view of the pedestal, ring, and clip; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of the invention with arrows showing the directionof movement of the clip between an opened and closed position; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring now in detail to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the body ofthe holder is shown as a pedestal designated by the numeral 10. It maybe made of plastic, wood, metal or the like. Preferably it is made ofwood worked on a lathe to be shaped so as to provide a decorativedesign. A washable latex paint is preferred on the spindle not only forits attractive appearance but also for the ease with which it may becleaned of food and the like when the holder is used on restauranttables, breakfast tables and the like.

Pedestal is provided with hole 14 along the main axis thereof to receivevertical extension 19 of wire ring 20. This ring 20 is preferably madeof bright metal such as copper or brass and preferably is of anelliptical or egg-shape as may best be seen in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 also shows to best advantage the configuration of swivel clip 22which is a French clothespin. It is formed by a single piece of wirewound around ring 20 at the middle portion of the wire to form a coil 24with free ends that are shaped to form upper jaw portions 26 and 28 thatform a pair of triangular shaped configurations for retaining cards,menus and the like therebetween. These free ends are further shaped toform lower loop portions designated by numerals 30 and 32 best seen inFIG. 3.

The wire-forming swivel clip 22 is covered throughout its length by aplastic coating illustrated in FIG. 2 to help prevent corrosion of clip22 particularly around the upper portions of jaws 26 and 28.

The operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 is verysimple. Swivel clip 22 moves easily in a clockwise or counterclockwisedirection about ring 20 and is then slidable about the ring to anydesired position. Once swivel clip 22 is in the desired position on ring20, loops 30 and 32 are then pinched together between the thumb andforefinger of either hand to retract upper horizontal portions 26 and 28away from each other so that the desired item to be held within theholder may be placed therein. FIG. 1 illustrates card 33 clasped betweenupper portions 26 and 28 in a horizontal position. Release of pressureon loops 30 and 32 allows the natural resilience of swivel clip 22 tobring upper portions 26 and 28 together, thereby clasping card 33 or anyother item to be held therebetween. It is not necessary to alter theposition of clip 22 on ring 20 in order to release the card or memo heldbetween upper jaws 26 and 28. This may be accomplished from any locationmerely by pinching together loops 30 and 32.

Another factor essential to retaining swivel clip 22 in a selectedposition on ring 20 is the shape of ring 20 itself. The egg-shape ormodified ellipse which is best seen in FIG. 2 is preferred formaintaining swivel clip 22 in a relatively vertical position. However, amore circular configuration can be used rather than the relativelystraight side of the modified eggshape to retain the clip in a morehorizontal position.

Referring to the modified form of the invention in FIG. 4, pedestal 10is the same as described in FIGS. 1 through 3 designated by numeral 10and having hole 14 provided axially therein. Rectangular frame 42 isconfigured to provide depending portion 43 insertable in hole 14. Frame42 is a single metal band shaped to provide horizontal base members 46and 47. Depending portion 43 is formed of vertical downward extensionsof base portions 46 and 47. Frame 42 is further shaped to providevertical members 48 and 50 extending upwardly from base members 46 and47 respectively to the opposite ends of top horizontal member 58.

Clip 60 is a conventional clothespin composed of two half pieces 62 and64 held together by resilient biassing means 66. This biassing meanscomprises coil 68 and a pair of outwardly extending arms, one of whichis designated by numeral 70, while the other cannot be fully seen in theview illustrated in this FIG. These arms are provided with right anglebends. Numeral 74 designates such a bend on the arm that cannot be fullyseen in this view. Bend 74 is shown fitted into slot 76 of piece 62.

Pieces 62 and 64 are provided with aligned hemispherical openings forrotatable engagement with horizontal member 58 of frame 42. Thesehemispherical openings divide pieces 62 and 64 into jaw portionsdesignated generally by numeral 78 and pinchable portions generallydesignated by numeral 80.

Pieces 62 and 64 in the region of the jaw portions 78 are provided withoppositely facing hemispherical depressions that together form opening82 between the closed jaws 78. Opening 82 also defines one side ofrounded portions 84 and 86 of pieces 62 and 64, respectively, that serveto clasp the card or menu between the jaws 78.

Referring now to pinchable portions of FIG. 4, numerals 62 and 64 arepieces provided with outward sloping pinchable extensions that create aV-shaped space therebetween to allow these pinchable portions 80 to besqueezed together pivoting around coil 68 as jaws 78 are retracted fromeach other. Release of pinchable portions 80 allows resilient biassingmeans 68 to close jaw portions 78 bringing rounded areas 84 and 86 intocontact.

The rotatable engagement of clip 60 about horizontal member 58 allowsthe clip to assume almost any position for holding cards, menus and thelike.

From the foregoing those skilled in the art will readily understand thenature and utility of the invention and the manner in which it realizesthe objects and advantages set forth in the foregoing.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of a preferred form of theinvention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than alimiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of theclaims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A decorative holder comprising a body having an upper surface and abase surface, said body having an aperture in said upper surfacethereof, a frame having the form of a ring and having two ends, one ofsaid ends being vertical and affixed in said aperture of said uppersurface, and a clip adopted for holding cards carried by said frame,said clip having an opening through which the frame passes, and saidclip being rotatable about the part of the frame that passes through theopening and slidable along the frame.

2. A holder as in claim 1 wherein said ring has a generally ellipticalshape.

3. A holder as in claim 1 wherein said ring has a generally circularshape.

4. A holder as in claim 1 wherein said clip is a French clothespincomprising a plastic-coated wire wound about the frame in the middle ofsaid wire to form a coil leaving two free ends which are configurated toform jaw portions and pinchable loop portions on opposite sides of saidcoil.

the coil configurated to form upper jaw portions for retaining cards,menus and the like therebetween and lower loop portions pinchable so asto retract said upper jaw portions from each other, said wire being ofadequate guage and consistency to provide resiliency to hold said jawportions together

1. A decorative holder comprising a body having an upper surface and abase surface, said body having an aperture in said upper surfacethereof, a frame having the form of a ring and having two ends, one ofsaid ends being vertical and affixed in said aperture of said uppersurface, and a clip adopted for holding cards carried by said frame,said clip having an opening through which the frame passes, and saidclip being rotatable about the part of the frame that passes through theopening and slidable along the frame.
 2. A holder as in claim 1 whereinsaid ring has a generally elliptical shape.
 3. A holder as in claim 1wherein said ring has a generally circular shape.
 4. A holder as inclaim 1 wherein said clip is a French clothespin comprising aplastic-coated wire wound about the frame in the middle of said wire toform a coil leaving two free ends which are configurated to form jawportions and pinchable loop portions on opposite sides of said coil. 5.A holder as in claim 1 wherein said clip is formed of a conventionalclothespin comprising wooden halves held together by resilient biassingmeans.
 6. A holder as in claim 1 wherein said clip is formed of a singlewire wound at its middle around the said frame to form a coil with freeends of the wire extending from opposite ends of the coil configuratedto form upper jaw portions for retaining cards, menus and the liketherebetween and lower loop portions pinchable so as to retract saidupper jaw portions from each other, said wire being of adequate guageand consistency to provide resiliency to hold said jaw portionstogether.